Colorblindness the New Racism/ Blog #2

Color-blind racism is racism without racists. Bonilla Silva goes to talk about this term heavy in chapters 2-5. This term can be broken down into four different frames: abstract liberalism, cultural racism, minimization of racism and naturalization. “The frame of abstract liberalism involves using ideas associated with political liberalism and economic liberalism in an abstract manner to explain racial matters,” (Bonilla-Silva 28). Whites can seem reasonable and even right while opposing the issue of inequality even though people of color are strictly overlooked in most good jobs, schools, and universities. “Cultural racism is a frame that relies on culturally bases arguments such as “Mexicans do not put much emphasis on education” or “blacks have too many babies” to explain the standing of minorities in society,” (Bonilla-Silva 28). Cultural racism are stereotypes against races that aren’t white, pre judgment against a race a=or person before getting to know that person or group. “Minimization of racism is a frame that states discrimination is no longer a central factor of affecting minorities’ life chances,” (Bonilla-Silva 29). This term shows that there is no more discriminating against races with jobs, universities, or schools. If this were the case why do school and jobs have to have a certain number of blacks or Hispanics enrolled in their schools, or working for their jobs? Why must everyone answer what race you are on an application or resume.  “Naturalization is a frame that allows whites to explain away racial phenomena by suggesting they are natural occurrences,” (Bonilla-Silva (28). People tend to simplify and stereotype the situation and blame it on the racial group as normal tendencies.  

            Bonilla-Silva states that color blindness is attributed in the basic style of communication between individuals. When interviewing the white individuals, he noticed that their responses were racially disturbing. The answers in their responses that displayed color-blind racism were picked through by the author. Some examples of verbal responses that showed racism are racism without racial labels, apparent denials, back and forth responses, reverse responses, and cut in comments. Bonilla-Silva describes the “race talk” of colorblind racism as, “the way in which this radical ideology allows users to legitimate themselves individually and the system of white supremacy, privilege, complicity as a whole,” (Bonilla-Silva 53).

            Whites relieve themselves of social responsibility for the world around them, as if actions have no effect. “The “multiplier effect” or the “wages of whiteness” of a history in our favor has had no effect upon disproportionate wealth and ownership accumulation, political power, access to jobs, schools, education, and other resources necessary for social advancement equality” (Bonilla-Silva 81). Whites may not see this as being white; they don’t have to acknowledge the unearned privilege. Therefore, “white privilege isn’t only unequal wealth, access, resources but it is also the privilege of not having to acknowledge where this came from, the cost to those who were denied so that whites could have what they have”(Peggy McIntosh, White Privilege). White privilege is unearned, it is historically rooted, it is the ability to choose ignorance as pleasure and not be held responsible for it.

http://ted.coe.wayne.edu/ele3600/mcintosh.html